Big Round Lake Fishing
A 1,014-acre Wisconsin lake in Polk County, down to 17 feet.
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Big Round Lake by the numbers
In Polk County, Big Round Lake spreads over 1,014 acres of open water. Expect water as deep as 17 feet, with a mean of 10 feet. Balsam Lake lies about 8 miles from the lake. It is a Northern Region water for the WDNR. The DNR groups it as a complex warm dark lake.
It lies in the ceded territory, where the walleye bag is three on each water. The DNR fish list names panfish, largemouth bass, walleye, muskellunge and northern pike. There are 1 public boat landing on its shore. A 2017 satellite estimate puts clarity at 4.8 feet.
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Each species group in Big Round Lake carries a WDNR abundance word.
| Fish group | WDNR abundance |
|---|---|
| Panfish | Abundant |
| Largemouth Bass | Common |
| Walleye | Common |
| Musky | Present |
| Northern Pike | Present |
How the DNR describes the Big Round Lake fishery
“Complex warm dark lakes often support great action fisheries for black crappie, and have potential to produced quality walleye, northern pike, and/or muskellunge fisheries.”
WDNR Find a Lake fish list and abundance, WDNR lake classification and fisheries designation layers, checked October 2026.
Boat landings on Big Round Lake
- Big Round Lake Access1 lane, 11 to 15 trailer stalls, boarding dock, restroom, public
Boat landings close to Big Round Lake
- Big Blake Lake Access near Balsam Lake (WDNR 1117)Big Blake Lake, 2 miles southwest
- Little Blake Lake AccessLittle Blake Lake, 2 miles south
- Big Blake Lake Access near Balsam Lake (WDNR 1118)Big Blake Lake, 3 miles southwest
- Vincent Lake AccessVincent Lake, 3 miles west
- Pickerel Lake Access near LuckPickerel Lake, 3 miles north
- Bass Lake Access near LuckBass Lake, 3 miles north
WDNR Boat Access and Shore Fishing layers and Find a Lake landing table, checked October 2026.
What the water is like in Big Round Lake
The DNR bottom survey for Big Round Lake lists 85% sand, 10% gravel, 0% rock, 5% muck.
WDNR types Big Round Lake as a drainage lake (a stream flows in and out).
Invasives verified in Big Round Lake: banded mystery snail, chinese mystery snail and curly-leaf pondweed. Leave the landing with an empty bilge and live well.
WDNR Find a Lake page, WDNR Landsat lake clarity layer, checked October 2026.
Fishing regulations for Big Round Lake
Each row is the regulation the WDNR app prints for Big Round Lake.
| Species | Season | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye, sauger and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 18" and the daily bag limit is 3. |
| Muskellunge and hybrids | May 2, 2026 to December 31, 2026 on open water | The minimum length limit is 40" and the daily bag limit is 1. |
| Northern pike | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | May 2, 2026 to March 7, 2027 | The minimum length limit is 14" and the daily bag limit is 5. |
| Panfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Catfish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Lake sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| Shovelnose sturgeon | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| Cisco and whitefish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is 10. |
| Rock, yellow and white bass | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Bullheads | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Rough fish | Open All Year | No minimum length limit and the daily bag limit is unlimited. |
| Paddlefish | Closed | No fishing allowed. |
| White perch | Open All Year | The daily bag limit is 0, one may be killed and possessed for transport to a WDNR Office. |
Every species on Big Round Lake also falls under this note: Catch and release fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open year round unless otherwise noted. Motor Trolling is allowed with up to 3 hooks, baits, or lures, per angler.
From the Polk County section of the guide: Polk County is in the ceded territory (see page 13 for additional ceded territory information). Motor trolling is permitted countywide (three hooks, baits or lures per person). Largemouth and smallmouth bass of any length may be kept in all waters that are border waters between Burnett and Polk counties.
For pike Big Round Lake is north of Hwy 10, and the Southern Bass Zone sets its bass dates.
WDNR Lake Regulation search and the 2026-2027 Guide to Wisconsin Hook and Line Fishing Regulations, checked October 2026.
Recent stockings at Big Round Lake
Stocking records for Big Round Lake: 2 entries, 42,477 fish, years 2023 to 2025.
| Year | Species | Size | Avg length | Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Walleye | large fingerling | 7.13 in | 22,211 |
| 2023 | Walleye | large fingerling | 6.8 in | 20,266 |
WDNR Fish Stocking Summary, stocking years 2023 to 2025. Wisconsin stocking.
Lakes near Big Round Lake compared
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Max depth ft | Landings | WDNR class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Round Lake | 1,014 | 17 | 1 | complex warm dark | |
| Lost Lake near Balsam Lake, Polk County, 56 acres | 2 miles west | 56 | 15 | 0 | simple warm dark |
| Clara Lake, Polk County | 2 miles south | 56 | 71 | 0 | simple warm dark |
| Little Blake Lake | 2 miles south | 78 | 14 | 1 | complex cool dark |
| Big Blake Lake | 2 miles southwest | 208 | 14 | 2 | complex warm dark |
| Bass Lake near Luck, Polk County | 3 miles north | 111 | 19 | 1 | simple warm clear |
WDNR Find a Lake, lake classification and boat access layers.
Around the area of Big Round Lake
Lakes next door to Big Round Lake
- Lost Lake near Balsam Lake, Polk County, 56 acres2 miles west
- Clara Lake, Polk County2 miles south
- Little Blake Lake2 miles south
- Big Blake Lake2 miles southwest
- Bass Lake near Luck, Polk County3 miles north
Minnows and tackle close to Big Round Lake
- Mort's Marinamarina, Amery, 6 miles
- Reed's Sunnyside Marinamarina, Balsam Lake, 8 miles
- Irlbeck Outdoorssporting goods store, Milltown, 10 miles
- Indianhead Sport Shopbait and tackle shop, Cumberland, 12 miles
- BobberStop Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Centuria, 13 miles
- Deer Lake Sportssporting goods store, St Croix Falls, 14 miles
Towns within reach of Big Round Lake
- Balsam Lake8 miles
- Luck9 miles
- Milltown10 miles
Big Round Lake by county
- Polk Countyseat: Balsam Lake
Piscifun spinning and casting reels for Big Round Lake
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Know the fish of Big Round Lake
Photo: Robert Pos, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0
Big Round Lake: what Wisconsin anglers want to know
Which Wisconsin county is Big Round Lake in?
Look in Polk County, WDNR Northern Region, about 8 miles from Balsam Lake.
How many acres does the WDNR give Big Round Lake?
1,014 acres of water and 17 feet at the deepest.
Can I back a trailer into Big Round Lake at a public landing?
1 mapped landing, led by Big Round Lake Access.
Which fish does the WDNR list for Big Round Lake?
On file: panfish (abundant), largemouth bass (common), walleye (common), muskellunge (present) and northern pike (present).
What size limits apply on Big Round Lake?
Walleye, sauger and hybrids: The minimum length limit is 18" and the daily bag limit is 3.
What does a nonresident pay to fish Big Round Lake?
Anglers 16 and older need a Wisconsin fishing license: $20 a year for residents and $55 for nonresidents, with a $5 first-time buyer rate for residents.
How clear does the water in Big Round Lake run?
Satellite clarity about 4.8 feet (2017). Bottom: 85% sand, 10% gravel, 0% rock, 5% muck. WDNR class: complex warm dark. Type: drainage.
Which bait counter sits closest to Big Round Lake?
Mort's Marina is about 6 miles from the lake.
When did WDNR crews last stock Big Round Lake?
WDNR stocked 22,211 walleye in 2025.
Hitch up the boat and haul it to Big Round Lake
The license page has every Wisconsin fee and season.